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Teaching, Vol 8, No. 2 x 20 Ontario School Library Association ISSUES CHARACTERISTICS AND BENEFITS OF A NEW COUNCIL STRUCTURE n Maintain regional representation on Council Joyce Cunningham, Northern members Cheryl Dinnin, Southwestern members Bobbie Henley, Central-West members Michelle Regina, Mid-Central members Kendra Godin-Svoboda, Central-East members Rose Dodgson, Toronto members Flavia Renon, Eastern members n Distribute the Association's work. n President and Vice-President to be ex-officio on all portfolios n Regional Councillors to accept responsibility for one portfolio each; if there are more portfolios than councillors, members-at-large will be recruited n Understand portfolio role as one of leadership and as a conduit for Council. n Present updates and reports prior to Council meetings electronically. n Identify agenda items within the portfolios calling for Council action n Encourage participation of greater numbers of members-at-large. n Assure that activities undertaken within a given portfolio reflect diverse geographic regions, school panels and membership as much as possible. n Facilitate long-term planning and ongoing work. n Establish an on-line discussion group for each portfolio in order to: - facilitate on-going decisions and planning, - meet specific needs and interests, - keep Council informed and up-to-date. n Nurture the interests, talents and needs of portfolio members. n Councillor will moderate their portfolio postings and take a leadership role as necessary. n Recognize and celebrate portfolio contributions. Your OSLA Council has beenrestructured away from strictregional representation. Council 2001 will be portfolio dri- ven - that is each councillor is accepting responsibility for a port- folio and is agreeing to provide leadership for that aspect of Association work. However, until the portfolios are formed and shaped to represent the geographic balance required to reflect the diversity of our vast province, the current regional structure will be maintained for this year with the portfolios superimposed on top of them. The structure will always remain dynamic, responding to change and needs. What prompted the change? It was the growth in the number of initia- tives and projects undertaken by OSLA in order to meet the chal- lenges of these changing times. This created a need for a greater distribution of leadership, greater participation by you, the members- at-large, and a project/issue-based structure that facilitates long-term planning. You are invited, indeed you are urged, to respond to the call for involvement in one of the port- folios of the Council of 2001. Sya Van Geest, OSLA President. RestrRestructuring ucturing OSLA Council to MeetOSLA Council to Meet EvEverer-Gr-Groowing Challengeswing Challenges